I just received the editorial review for Bane from BookLife (the indie review arm of Publishers Weekly), and I might have made a weird little squeak noise when I read it.
Here’s a taste:
“Black seamlessly weaves romance with mystery… A titillating blend of passion and suspense… Readers will be consumed by this irresistible blend of small-town charm and explosive passion.” — BookLife Reviews
Not only did they love the mix of romance and mystery, but they also compared Bane to books by Devney Perry and Catherine Cowles — authors whose work I absolutely adore. That comparison alone made my whole week.
The review touched on everything I hoped readers would feel…
A Glow Up, A Childhood Crush, An Unconventional Enemies To Lovers Arc
The sharp tension between Amelia and Michael — a childhood crush turned into something far more dangerous. Flipping the enemies to lovers trope on its head to give you a steamy initial encounter that looks like it’s going to be a sweet romance, only for it all to fall apart.
Forced Proximity And Fake Dating
The moment everything shifts: when she lies for him and finds out the man he assaulted is dead. She’s stuck with him now, despite being spitting mad and hating his guts for the crushing disappointment of realising their romance wasn’t what she thought it was.
Murder, Mystery, The Suspense Is Killing Me (Well, Someone…)
The way the story balances intense romantic chemistry with a murder mystery that keeps the pressure building. I’m an absolute sucker for romance, but I’m also easily bored (that would be the ADHD). I need multiple threads in a story to keep me occupied. Something I can get my teeth into while the romance is bubbling away. A murder mystery is the perfect thing. After all, what says romance more than a body count stacking up as you’re stacking up your body count? (Kidding! Well…mostly.)
A Satisfying Climax (Yep, That’s A Double Entendre)
And a satisfying climax that doesn’t let up on the suspense until the very end. You think you know what’s going on, but you don’t. And you really want Michael to be the bad boy with a heart of gold, but it’s really not a given.
And yes… there’s blood, secrets, and passion. Because what’s a romantic suspense without a little danger?
Top Marks For Bane…
They also gave top marks for editing, design, and marketing copy — which, as a self-published author figuring this all out in real time, felt like a massive win.
A friend read the review and asked how I was feeling. And in typical me fashion, I said: “Honestly? I’m obsessing over the fact they only gave me a B+ for the cover.” Not the glowing comments, not the A- in editing, the other A- in marketing, or the A in typography — just the B+.
For about five minutes, I was genuinely wondering if I should redo the entire cover design.
Fortunately, said friend talked some sense into me.
They reminded me a B is still good (perfectionist brain needed that), and that not everyone’s going to love the same aesthetic. More importantly, they pointed out that my covers are very me. The kind of design I love on a book. My colours. My tone. They tease the story and reflect the mood, and honestly? I adore them.
And once I remembered that, I felt a lot better.
So, What’s Bane All About?
If you’re new here: Bane is the novel that follows Eve Was Framed (a free novella that introduces the world and one of its key characters). You don’t need to read Eve first, but if you like smart heroines, magnetic men with secrets, and stories where love and danger are always intertwined… you’re in the right place.
You can grab Bane here either in paperback or on Kindle (it’s FREE on Kindle Unlimited, which is available on a 30 day free trial if you don’t already have it!).
Already read it? I’d love if you left a review — every one makes a huge difference. If you’re on Instagram or TikTok and tag me in a post, I always share and repost, and will give you a follow, too!
Thank you so much to everyone who’s supported this book — more news coming soon, especially about Nightshade (and yes, it’s juicy).
Briar x
